Williams makes Kelsey Levine first female head Alpine coach in history

Skiing

Williams makes Kelsey Levine first female head Alpine coach in history

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Kelsey Levine has been named head Alpine ski coach of the Ephs in announcement by Williams Athletic Director Lisa Melendy.

Levine is the first female head Alpine coach in NCAA skiing.

"We had a strong pool of candidates and Kelsey distinguished herself among them," Melendy said. "Her understanding of the role of athletics at Williams College combined with her ski background and knowledge of the sport make her a great fit for Williams skiing.

"I look forward to working with her as she leads this program into the future. I am confident she will continue the fine tradition of skiing at Williams begun decades ago and led so well over the past 30 years by Ed Grees."

Since the fall of 2005, Levine knew that Williams was where she wanted to be and that is why she applied as an early decision candidate that fall and that is why joined the Ephs' Alpine ski staff in 2010 after graduating from Williams.

"I certainly did not think I would be a college coach before I arrived at Williams," Levine said. "I always figured that I would find what I was passionate about while at school and I guess I was right about that! I couldn't be more excited to coach here at Williams. It is an amazing group to work with and I am proud to remain in the Eph community in this new capacity."

A four-year member of the Eph team, Levine evolved from a student coach into an assistant coach under Grees to this past year when she assumed even more duties of a head coach. She planned the Ephs' practice sessions, made travel arrangements and worked with the staff to coordinate practice sessions.

Frequently she would meet with the ski team members to analyze and review their race and practice performances.

"If Ed taught me one thing, it is the idea of ownership," Levine said. "The only way to do something well is to take responsibility and pride in what you are doing and make it your own. It is what I hope to pass on to my athletes and it is what I can depend on moving forward as the head alpine ski coach."

In addition to her coaching at Williams, Levine also spent the fall of 2013 at Norges Toppidrettsgymnas shadowing the coaches of Norway's top ski racers and in 2014 she was a race coach in the Men's North American Cup Series.